Starlight Christmas Pantomime cheers up young patients at Watford General Hospital

Published on: 30th November 2017 | By: The Newsdesk | Category:

Christmas is a particularly difficult time of year for children to be in hospitals so this festive period, Starlight Children’s Foundation brought a large dose of fun and laughter to children in Starfish ward at Watford General Hospital on Monday November 20. This year’s pantomime is Cinderella. Fully interactive, this new adaptation of the classic children’s story is full of fun and the young patients laughed, cheered and sang along as the actors performed for the children, their families and the staff. Helen Cripps, Play Specialist at Watford General Hospital said, “We know that play can significantly help to improve a child’s hospital experience and we are very grateful to Starlight’s Christmas Pantomime for helping restore some festive fun to the ward. It provides our young patients with a welcome break from treatment and allows them to forget about their illness for a short while and experience the magic of Christmas, something that every child deserves.” Sue Wildman, Head of Children’s Services at Starlight Children’s Foundation, said, “Starlight aims to improve a child’s stay in a hospital or hospice by providing entertainment and distraction. Starlight’s Christmas Pantomime is a fabulous way of spreading some much-needed festive cheer to hospitalised children and their families over the Christmas period. We hope that this performance of Cinderella will be just what the doctor ordered!” Starlight is a national charity that grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes for seriously and terminally ill children and provides entertainment in hospitals and hospices across the UK. And every year, they provide entertainment and distraction to over half a million sick children and the Starlight Christmas Pantomime will give over 1,000 children something to look forward to, the chance to forget their worries and get into the festive spirit. For more information about Starlight, visit www.starlight.org.uk